INSTRUCTIONS. 7 



ceedings ; You are hereby required and directed 

 to proceed to sea, with all convenient despatch, 

 in the Dorothea : and, taking under your orders 

 the Trent above-mentioned, make the best of 

 your way into the Spitzbergen Seas, through 

 which you will endeavour to pass to the north- 

 ward, between Spitzbergen and Greenland, with- 

 out stopping on either of their coasts. 



In this passage you may expect to meet with 

 frequent obstruction from fields and islands of 

 ice, to get clear of which, and to ensure the 

 safety of the ships and people committed to 

 your charge, will require from you and all who 

 are under your orders the greatest precaution 

 and vigilance. And, as the navigation among 

 ice may be considered as an art to be acquired 

 only by practice, we have directed that there be 

 appointed to each of the ships under your orders 

 a master and a mate of whale-fishing vessels, 

 well experienced in those seas, from whose know- 

 ledge and skill you may derive considerable as- 

 sistance. 



As, with the imperfect knowledge we have 

 of the sea beyond Spitzbergen, no specific in- 

 structions can be given for your guidance, the 

 time and manner of proceeding to fulfil the 

 ulterior object of your destination, in places 

 where impediments may occur, must be left en- 



